Rear Spark plug boots. This may be a known solution...

98 3.1L darn baby won't die... still putting off getting a new car....

I literally ran out of curse words trying to get the rear spark plug boots off. I can fit my arm in there, but pulling them off in the correct direction is an entirely different matter.

So I got some parachute cord, looped it around the plug wire, tied a slip knot, then slid the knot around the boot and tightened. Then pulled the boot off. I found a quick snap works a lot better than a hard steady pull.

My engine was slightly vibrating, but was not setting off the SES ..... I've had this baby since she was 8 months old, so know when something is wrong. Most people wouldn't be able to tell. My first guess was the plugs were worn (used normal non-platinum ac delco in my 2010 top end rebuild) after 40k... gap had expanded to about .075" ... hoping that did the trick.

Thought I would share the boot removal trick... probably not the first to try that but I've never heard of anyone doing that.

The trick is, to rotate the engine forward to create more room.....

then grip the boot and twist it it left and then right, to free the boot from the porcelain, then pull off.....but sometimes, especially if this is the first time you are removing the boots on a high mileage vehicle, they won't twist free.....

I have, in those cases, snapped the top of the plug off with the boot(just drive a screwdriver against the top of the plug), blow away any chips around the threads, and then remove the rest of the plug.....anytime you have to yank on wires to remove them, there is a good chance you can damage them, creating a misfire down the road......the wires should all be replaced....

The trick is, to rotate the engine forward to create more room.....

then grip the boot and twist it it left and then right, to free the boot from the porcelain, then pull off.....but sometimes, especially if this is the first time you are removing the boots on a high mileage vehicle, they won't twist free.....

I have, in those cases, snapped the top of the plug off with the boot(just drive a screwdriver against the top of the plug), blow away any chips around the threads, and then remove the rest of the plug.....anytime you have to yank on wires to remove them, there is a good chance you can damage them, creating a misfire down the road......the wires should all be replaced....

my mechanic has a lumina and is factory trained and he uses that trick also.

98 3.1L darn baby won't die... still putting off getting a new car....

I literally ran out of curse words trying to get the rear spark plug boots off. I can fit my arm in there, but pulling them off in the correct direction is an entirely different matter.

So I got some parachute cord, looped it around the plug wire, tied a slip knot, then slid the knot around the boot and tightened. Then pulled the boot off. I found a quick snap works a lot better than a hard steady pull.

My engine was slightly vibrating, but was not setting off the SES ..... I've had this baby since she was 8 months old, so know when something is wrong. Most people wouldn't be able to tell. My first guess was the plugs were worn (used normal non-platinum ac delco in my 2010 top end rebuild) after 40k... gap had expanded to about .075" ... hoping that did the trick.

Thought I would share the boot removal trick... probably not the first to try that but I've never heard of anyone doing that.


If you jack the passenger side up at the control arm it clears enough room to weave your arm in there from the wheel well

Bye bye lumina forums.... Got a new Prius. Combination of recently cracked windshield, that dang 4 yr old magnaflow cat that keeps setting off my SES, and recent vibration (alternator) has recently made it uneconomical to keep. Here's to 15 1/2 years abs 220k miles of a fairly trouble free car (minus the DIY LIM+headjob and hvac replacement)

Bye bye lumina forums.... Got a new Prius. Combination of recently cracked windshield, that dang 4 yr old magnaflow cat that keeps setting off my SES, and recent vibration (alternator) has recently made it uneconomical to keep. Here's to 15 1/2 years abs 220k miles of a fairly trouble free car (minus the DIY LIM+headjob and hvac replacement)
I'd think I'd rather walk around with a Lumina steering wheel in my hand making zoom-vroom noises, than drive a Prius.

Ha, ha.....

Do you know the comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham("I kill you!")?

He has a Prius....he says he can make a left turn just by sticking his hand out the window while driving....